Music added to Android Market (for some)

An overnight update has added the Music category to Android market for some users. The version number still remains the same at 3.3.11, though the new option is there.

To use the music feature you also have to download the new Google Music app from Android Market.  This should give Android devices a little bit of an edge over the iPhone with all it’s new features that iTunes lack.

Stay tuned for a more in depth look.

Another Cool Android Market Update

Alright folks. It appears that Google has been at it again and released another update for Android Market.

A few features that are noteworthy are that you can use Googles new + feature to rate apps and games, and it now has the capability to set a pin number to be able to purchase an app (anyone with kids with appreciate this!)

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Remember that you will need to go into “Settings” – “Applications” and check the box for non-market installations.  The plus to this is that you don’t need to have a rooted phone to make this work!

Google Voice, In a nutshell.

This is a tutorial about how to use Google Voice while you are in a nutshell.  No wait. It’s just a simple tutorial about how to use Google Voice.  I always get those confused. So, what is Google Voice, and How do you use it?
Google Voice is a few different things all wrapped up together. It can provide you a voicemail number, or be incorporated into your own number as a replacement for your voicemail. It also can provide you with multi-carrier text messaging. This means that you can send a text message to any cell phone on any carrier, using your Google Voice number.  Sprint even offers full integration now so you can use your Sprint number as your Google Voice number and not have to deal with 2 numbers.
Another big plus to Google Voice is that you can make international calls through it, without hitting your carrier’s bill.  You carrier will just see you call your Google voice number and not the international number, so you can take advantage of the great rates that Google offers.  You can also have calls to you Google Voice number forwarded to multiple places, so you can use one number for multiple phones. 
The web and Android interfaces are both well designed.  Here is the feature list from our friends at Google:
  • One number. Make calls and send text messages from your Google Voice number.
  • Voicemail transcription. Voicemails are automatically transcribed to text so you can read them like email.
  • Free text messages. Send and receive text messages to numbers in the US and Canada for free.
  • Cheap international calls Make low-priced international calls directly from your mobile device.
  • Integration. Google Voice integrates with your device’s native address book or Google Contacts.
  • Custom greetings. Set up different greetings for different callers.
  • So sign up and download it today, it’s free!

    Some “Best of the Best” accessories for your Android phone:

    Try Android apps before you buy them with Amazon’s Test Drive

    Have you ever wanted to check out an app without having to buy it first?  Or simply wanted to see it in action and interact with it before you download it to your phone?  Sick of the not-so-generous 15 minute return period you get with the Android Market?  Well than you need to check out Amazon’s Test Drive.

    Test Drive is basically an Android emulator that runs in your browser window.  It gives you a 30 minute window to try out the app, using your mouse as touch input and your keyboard to type, without having to buy anything, or download anything.  They have thousands of apps that you can do this with too.

    So give it a shot and see what you think!